Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist – Morristown, NJ

Join an established hospitality group as a Payroll Specialist, where you’ll independently lead the complete payroll cycle for a large, multi-state workforce. This is an impactful, full-time opportunity for someone eager to take ownership, work autonomously, and make a difference in a dynamic, people-focused culture.

Payroll Specialist Benefits & Compensation

• Base salary: $60,000–$70,000
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
• Supportive team culture with opportunities for career growth

Payroll Specialist Requirements & Qualifications

• 4+ years of payroll experience in a high-volume, multi-state hourly environment
• Direct experience acting as the sole or primary payroll manager for a similarly sized workforce (2,000+ employees)
• Advanced hands-on proficiency with payroll and HRIS systems (Paycom, ADP, Paycor, Paychex)
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local wage and hour compliance, including FLSA and state-specific regulations
• Prior experience supporting unionized workforces and administering payroll related to collective bargaining agreements
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational discipline
• Fluent in Excel for payroll audits, reconciliations, and reporting
• Familiar with payroll general ledger processes

Payroll Specialist Preferred Background & Skills

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
• Previous experience supporting a restaurant group, multi-site retail, or franchise location as the sole payroll expert
• Experience with tipped wage calculations, tip pooling, and related compliance highly desirable
• Familiarity with the Healthy Terminals Act (HTA) and hospitality payroll compliance
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus

Payroll Specialist Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary payroll owner for all hourly and salaried employees across multiple states, including union and non-union groups
• Independently manage weekly and biweekly payroll cycles, approvals, and deadlines with minimal supervision
• Audit, reconcile, and maintain payroll records, ensuring accuracy across new hires, rate changes, deductions, union dues, and benefit elections
• Design, implement, and refine self-checking controls to proactively identify and prevent errors
• Ensure compliance with all applicable wage and hour laws, including unique state and union requirements
• Act as the main contact for payroll inquiries, wage audits, unemployment claims, and related matters
• Document payroll procedures for transparency and continuity

If you have a track record of independently running payroll operations and are ready to make an impact in a collaborative hospitality setting, apply today.